College football notes: Suit may define NCAA's reach

In a bold challenge to the NCAA's powers, Pennsylvania's governor claimed in a lawsuit Wednesday that college sports' governing body overstepped its authority when it penalized Penn State over the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.

Gov. Tom Corbett asked that a federal judge throw out the sanctions, which include an unprecedented $60 million fine and a four-year ban on bowl games, arguing that the measures have harmed people who had nothing to do with Sandusky's crimes. "A handful of top NCAA officials simply inserted themselves into an issue they had no authority to police," Corbett said.

The case could define just how far the NCAA's authority extends. Up to now, the federal courts have allowed the organization broad powers to protect the integrity of college athletics.

The NCAA said the suit has no merit and called it an "affront" to Sandusky's victims.

Penn State said it had no role in the lawsuit. In fact, it agreed not to sue as part of the deal with the NCAA accepting the sanctions, which were imposed after an investigation found that football coach Joe Paterno and other top officials hushed sexual-abuse allegations against Sandusky, a former member of Paterno's staff, for more than a decade for fear of bad publicity.

Petrino picks coordinators

Western Kentucky coach Bobby Petrino has hired Jeff Brohm and Nick Holt to be his coordinators. Brohm will lead the Hilltoppers' offense, Holt the defense.

Brohm, UAB's offensive chief last season, also served as Petrino's quarterbacks coach at Louisville from 2003-06.

Holt was defensive coordinator at Washington from 2009-11 and Southern California from 2006-08, and Idaho's head coach from 2004-05.

Seminoles frustrate NIU

Northern Illinois, which crashed the Orange Bowl party as unwanted guests from the Mid-American Conference, fell Tuesday night to favored Florida State, 31-10.

"Yeah, it got frustrating at times," said NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch. "There's a reason they're a top-five defense in the nation."

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